The Caste Verification Committee lacked jurisdiction to cancel the caste certificate without adhering to natural justice principles, necessitating re-evaluation as per established legal standards.

ORDER :

1. In this petition, petitioner seeks the following reliefs:

i. Issue a Writ of Certiorari or any other Order or Direction, to quash the impugned order dated 25.06.2020 Ref to Letter No.RM- 1/HR:116 issued by the respondent No.3, as per ANNEXURE-F and impugned order dated 26.06.2020 issued by the respondent No.3 bearing No. NIL as per ANNEXURE-G.

ii. Issue a Writ of Certiorari or any other Order or Direction, to quash the impugned order dated 06.02.2015 bearing No.GSaKa/S.1/JaPa/CR/3/ 2014-15 passed by the respondent No.1 as per ANNEXURE-H.

iii. Issue a Writ of Mandamus or any other Order or Direction, directing the Respondents to extend the benefit of Government Order dated 11.03.2002 bearing No. SWD 713 SAD 93 Bengaluru produced as ANNEXURE-B by considering the representation dated 22.10.2003 as per ANNEXURE- B.

iv. Issue any other appropriate Writ or Order or Direction which deems fit to grant by this Hon'ble Court under the facts and circumstances of the case.

2. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and learned counsel for respondents.

3. A perusal of the material on record will indicate that the petitioner obtained appointment as a Peon in the respondent Nos.2 and 3-State Bank of India (for short, ‘Bank’), in the year 1985 by producing a caste certificate indicating that he belongs to Tokre Koli Community, which is classified as a Scheduled Tribe. On 11.03.2002, the State Government issued a Government Order pursuant to the decision of the Constitution Bench of the Apex Court in Civil Appeal No.2294/1986 dated 28.11.2000. The petitioner, who contended that he was entitled to the benefit of the said Government Order dated 11.03.2002, approached this Court in WP No.46638/2003, seeking extension of the said benefit conferred under the said order and for other reliefs.

4. During the pendency of the said petition, the caste certificate issued in favour of the petitioner having been cancelled by the respondent No.1-District Caste Verification Committee (for short, ‘the Committee’), on 03.09.2003, the petitioner approached the Court in WP No.46638/2003, inter alia, contending that the Caste Verification Committee did not have jurisdiction or authority under the law and that it was only the Committee constituted pursuant to the order passed by the Apex Court in the case of Kumari Madhuri Patil and Another Vs. Additional Commissioner Tribal Development and Others , (1994) 6 SCC 241 , that would necessarily have to adjudicate upon the legality or validity of the caste certificate issued in favour of the petitioner. Under these circumstances, this Court disposed of the aforesaid WP No.46638/2003, vide final order dated 29.03.2011, by setting aside the order of the Caste Verification Committee and remitting the matter back to the Caste Verification Committee constituted in 2009, for reconsideration afresh in accordance with law.

5. After remand, the respondent No.1-Committee proceeded to pass the impugned order dated 06.02.2015 at Annexure-H, once again cancelling the caste certificate issued in favour of the petitioner. In pursuance of the same, the respondent Nos.2 and 3-Bank proceeded to terminate the services of the petitioner, vide order and communication at Annexures-F and G dated 25.06.2020 and 26.06.2020 respectively. Aggrieved by the impugned order dated 06.02.2015 vide Annexure-H passed by the respondent No.1 and the impugned orders at Annexures-F and G dated 25.06.2020 and 26.06.2020 respectively passed the respondent Nos.2 and 3, the petitioner is before this Court by way of the present petition.

6. Learned AGA f